Jessie: The straightforward path into consulting. I studied Industrial Engineering but later switched to Psychology. At our university, RWTH Aachen, there is a student consultancy that I got involved with. I was responsible for HR topics on the board. At the time, I realized I was more interested in working with people than with numbers and processes. Hence the switch to Psychology. I’ve been working for an HR consultancy for a few years now. I’ve found my place in change management and can bring my knowledge and experience to the table here.
I had already gained some insight into large consulting firms, and it was clear to me: that’s not for me – it’s too impersonal. The impulse to apply to grosse-hornke came from a former colleague from the student consultancy. He had been working here for a few years and reached out: “Wouldn’t you fancy a chat?” That’s how it came about.
We are supporting a software company with the rollout of a new ERP system. The project affects the entire company: HR, logistics, procurement, and finance – first in Germany, and later internationally. My role is to support employees through the transformation. For example, I run workshops and handle internal communications. The goal is to ensure that employees truly embrace the new system and use it productively.
Traveling alone – why not? You can meet nice people taking photos everywhere. Even at Lake Biwa on the island of Honshū in Japan.
Alongside the key metrics we keep track of, there are many small success stories in the project. Just the other day, a participant came up to me after a workshop. I was bracing myself for complaints, because he had been very reserved throughout the day. But then he said: “That was the most meaningful team-building session I’ve ever done.” That really makes it all worthwhile.
A lot. For example, during our studies we had practical modules that focused on listening and asking questions. It sounds simple, but it’s something that you really have to practice and that many people don’t realize. And then there are socio-psychological models for changing behavior, which are very useful in change. Resistance to projects has a lot to do with habits or professional identities.
It may sound like a cliché, but it’s true: feedback is a gift. In our team, actively seeking feedback is part of the job. You learn so much in such a short space of time.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions within your team, no matter how trivial they may seem. Projects and companies have their own language, lots of abbreviations, for example: BU for Business Unit, BPO for Business Process Owner, PMO for Project Management Office. It’s better to ask one too many questions than to misunderstand the client later.
I go to concerts a lot, ranging from indie and AC/DC to Harry Styles and classical music. But dancing has been my passion since I was very young. In my hometown, there are several show dance groups that perform at carnival. But it’s nothing like the traditional guard dancing at the Cologne carnival. We also incorporate lifting figures from cheerleading, for example. I lead various groups, perform as a dancer myself, and coordinate all the preparations: developing the theme, choreography, costumes, and so on. So there’s actually a lot of project work involved.
“Dance with the devil” was the motto of this dance show, in which Jessie and her troupe took to the stage in 2025.
I’m currently reading “Hopelessly Optimistic” by Dirk Steffens. He is well known from television, where he hosts “Terra X”. The book is about navigating crises and why it pays to stay optimistic. I think this shift in perspective is really valuable in times like these.
Listening is an art, says our colleague Jessie Küppers. As a psychologist, she has a trained ear for the issues that concern stakeholders in projects. In this interview, she explains why she is in her element in change management – and what her hobby of show dancing and consulting have in common.
Too many balls in the air? In practice, it is often not possible to prioritize projects effectively. The result: teams get sidetracked, important milestones are missed. What breaks the deadlock?
In this interview, our colleague talks about the best moments in an IT project, his record hunt on Duolingo – and why he decided to become a management consultant.
2021 Grosse-Hornke